Elevator control apparatus



Jan. 4, 1949.- E. o. KERN 2,458,005

ELEvgvroR CONTROL-APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1945 4 sheets-sheet 1 /ZEIEEEIEHEEIE 9m c1 c c1 c1 o o c,

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Jan. 4, 1949. E. o. KERN 2,453,005

ELEVATOR CONTROL APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :n: A/ /j /arhn; o MO o i 76@ 2 y# O o j fienof iwara/ 17T/fe??? Jan. 4, 1949. E. o. KERN ELEVATOR CONTROL APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, i945 Patented Jan. 4, 1949 L"UNiT-'IEID STATES PAT-ENT 'OFFICE l' ELEV'ATOR CONTROL APPARATUS Edward O. Kern, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assignor 'to WagnerManufacturing Company, Cedar Falls, kIowa,'a corporation of Iowa Application June 25, 1945, Serial No.j 601,519

4 Claims. A.1

`This invention-relates to improvements in elevators. More specifically, it-relates to means for controlling elevators. Still more specifically, this invention relates to `the provision of ashing means to show that an elevator is standing at the .top of the elevatorshaft.

This meanspreferably operates only when the elevatorlis at the top.

This invention also relates to'iiashingmeans, whichfpreierably operates` only on thegreen (or down) signal, when the elevator is at the top.

By this means itf'maybe learned if the elevator is lat the top when it should be, since an elevator mayhave left .too early or arrived too late.

The invention also-relates to flashing means forflashingthe 'lightduring and after the time the green or down) light has gone off ,and while the 4car is at the top terminal.

By this means it maybe learned when an elevator leaves the top of the shaft.

Another object and advantage of the inventionris the provisionY of 'such' means which is simple and efcient in operation, `andis reasonable in cost-and simple and practical toi produce.

'Referring'now to the drawings:

Fig. l ishowsithepanel of the preferred-form.

Fig. 2 shows the upper position of'an elevator with the 'camand roller-operating switch means; andthe. dotted lines showthe downward position oflthe elevator, showing the position when the roller leavesthe cam.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view of theswitch'mea'ns and switch-operating' means.

YFig.4.-is1afront view'of the interior ofthe panel with the coverremoved.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view 'of the circuit and switch means used for the ashingmeans to show when the'elevator is standing atthe top.

Fig. Yfi is a diagrammatic view of a modified form of "flashing'means, which operates only on the green. signal, when the velevator `isat the top.

Fig? is a diagrammatic view of another modiedformshowing the ashing means'whicheis used during and after the green lighthas gone onfwhile the elevator .is vat the topt'erminal.

YA support l .may be located atlany convenient portion of `the'building. as, for example, on the first floor.

\"l'hefsupport may'liave 4a suitable motor 2 provided fwitlrrl a clutchB-'and'a'driven shaft 4.

Secured to' said shaft "4 'is va suitable driving means, f such as the friction disk m5, with which contacts the adjustable friction'idisk'=6,rigid"with nais.

f, the lights and the motor oi the control unit, provisionsior adjusting the round-trip time interval and suitable plugs for cutting cars in and out o service. f

:The systemV may be' provided with means readily accessibleto the starter for sub-dividing the total round-trip time into up time and down timeyincluding'means'for allowing either more orless'than one-halfpf the round-trip time in either direction.

The dispatching' panel preferably includes four signal lights for each carand one starters callback button for each car.

The signal lightalocated'in each control panel I, Ishall illuminate vsimultaneously with those located in the cars fand .preferably consist of a white"light*9'for an' up-starting light, a green lightf-IIl 'forfea `down-"starting light7 a red light I I for'` the 'onetime/or vwarning light,'and a light I2 for upper terminal control.

fProvisi'on may be made in the dispatching cabinet to vary the-period between the time that the red or warning light comes on and the time when the white or'up light comes on, so as to provide for more `or less loading time during this interval.

.In Fig. 2 I haveshown a cab I3 located in guide rails I4 in the usual manner.V

Therenis also shown `mounted on .the bottomof the-can a roller. carril-I5, shown in detail in Fig. `3.

The roller may be mounted on'a pin I6 in a lever I'I.,-1: ivota1ly mountedr at` I8 in a'boX I9, secured' tothe bottomof kthe car.

The `lever preferably `has legs I8a and |81), which'may bemade integral or may be secured to each Vother in any suitable manner.

Secured'tothe leverr is a shoe 20, andthe lever isnormally heldin'jthe, position., as shown in full lines' inFlgJS, lay-means of a springy 2 I, the downward `movement of the lshoe 'being limited by means of a stop pin 22. v

Also mounted at some convenient point in the elevator hatchway is a cam plate 23, having beveled ends 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 2.

Adapted to be operated by the shoe are the contacts 26 and 21.

It will be readily understood that when the cab I3 moves downwardly beyond the cam end 25, the roller cam will be in the position shown ln Fig. 3 in full lines, and will be in contact with the contacts 26. However, when the car goes upwardly, beyond the cam end 25, the roller will be in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a cylinder 8, which may be operated through a motor 2 connected to a suitable source of power. This may be as set forth in the afore-mentioned patent.

A pilot light 30 may be connected into the circuit, if desired.

The cylinder 8 may have terminal contacts 3I, 32, 33, 34 and 35 adapted to contact the signal contacts 36, 31, 38 and 39 on a contact carrying member 40, taking current from a suitable source of supply S.

While the signal system to the cab is illustrated for only one cab and the signal system for the board is illustrated for only two cabs, it will be apparent that the same system may be used for any number of cabs.

It will be understood that the cam plate 23 is located near the top of the elevator shaft. In this way, when the cab reaches the top, the roller I will be operated by the cam plate, as heretofore described, to complete a circuit to the asher 4I through the Wires 4I a and 4Ib, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Normally there will be a steady white light I2 on the control board through the contacts 26 and the wires 4Ia and 4Ib, but when the cam roller I5 is operated by the cam plate 23 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the con.- tact at contacts 26 will be broken and the circuit to the asher 4I, through contacts 21, will be completed to ash the light I2 continuously until the cam roller I5 rides off the cam plate 23, when the normal condition will be resumed with the steady White light at I2.

As long as the roller I5 is in contact with the cam plate 23, the roller I5 Will be in` the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 3, and the upper terminal control light I2 will flash intermittently until after the car leaves the top terminal, so that the starter will know Whether or not the cab has left the top terminal immediately after receiving the down-starting signal, which for example, might be the green signal, as described in the afore-mentioned patent.

When the terminal 35 of the cylinder 8 makes contact with the terminal 39, for example, then a circuit is completed for the green or down signal by means of the lines 43 and 44. There is preferably interposed in line 43 a manually controlled push button 30, by means of which the starter .may ash a green light in the cab independently of the drum 8.

When this circuit is completed the green signal 45 in the cab I3 will be lighted, as also will be the green signal I0 on the control board.

My invention. relates also to ilashing means which preferably operate only upon the green or down signal, when the elevator is at the top.

The advantage oi' this is that it may be learned if the elevator is at the top when it should be, since an elevator may have left too early or arrived too late.

Normally the upper control light I2 will be operated as in Fig. 5.

There may be a wire 41 taken oi the wire 43, leading to a relay 48 having return wire 49, referring to Fig. 6.

The relay when energized will attract the switch 48a and close a circuit to the iiasher 4I in the cab through wires 50 and 5I. In this Way, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, when the green or starting down light comes on and the roller is engaging the Cam plate 23, the signal I2 will ilash until the roller passes downwardly beyond the cam plate 23.

Means are also provided for flashing during and after the time the green or down light has gone on. By this means it may be learned when an elevator leaves the top of the shaft.

When the terminal 35 of the cylinder 8 contacts the terminal 39 on the contact carrying member 40 to energize the line 43 to the green light, as in the modiiication shown in Fig. 6, to complete a circuit with the line 44 to energize the green signals `45 in the cab and IIl on the control board, another circuit will be energized, consisting of the line 131, the relay 48 and the line 49.

The relay 4i@ when energized will be adapted to pull the switch ma. When this occurs, the switch 48a will close the circuit to a flasher 4I, including the lines 52 and 53.

This circuit also includes a relay 54 (Fig. 7) adapted to release the locking element 55, and the switch 48a is thus returned to inoperative position. Thus means are provided for flashing the ilash signal during and after the time the green light has gone on, while the car is at the top terminal, since, after the roller I5 leaves the cam plate 23, the circuit to the ilasher will be broken, although the flasher will operate during and after the time the green light has gone on and while the car is at the top when the roller I5 is in contact with the cam plate 23.

Relay 54 is controlled by switch 2B in a circuit including lines 56 and 51.

When the roller I5 rides on the cam plate 23 the switch 21 is closed, partially closing the flasher circuit. This circuit is completed when the switch 48a is closed by the relay 4B, which is operated by the green light circuit, as in Fig. 6.

The switch 48a is locked in closed position by the locking pawl 55 until the locking pawl 55 is released, when the switch 2B is closed through energizing the relay 54.

It is believed that the operation of the foregoing will be manifest without further description, but in short there are provided herewith three alternate systems, to-wit:

l. A hashing system when the car is at the top. and which is unconditional upon the green light.

2. A flashing system operating when the car is at the top, conditioned on the green light being on.

3. A dashing system operating when the car is at the top, conditioned 0n the green light starting, but noil dependent upon the continuance of the green light.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, vthis is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist 1. Flashing means for showing that an elevator is standing at the top of an elevator shaft, said means including a cam plate on the elevator shaft at the top thereof and a cam secured to the elevator, operable when the cam on the elevator rides against the cam plate, said cam being adapted to make an electric circuit to cause a flashing signal on a control board, said flashing means being adapted to operate only on a green sig-nal, when the elevator is at the top.

2. Flashing means for showing .that an elevator is standing at ythe top of an elevator shaft, said means includlnga cam plate on the elevator shaft at the top thereof and a cam secured to the elevator, operable when the cam on the elevator rides against the cam plate, said cam being adapted to make an electric circuit to cause a flashing signal ,1

on a control board, said flashing means being adapted to operate only when a. green down signal is on, when the elevator is at the top, said means for operating said flashing means including a relay.

3. In an elevator operating system having cars vertically slldable in their respective elevator shafts and the usual indicating and control signals, a flasher signal, a down signal operable from the starting floor of .the elevators, and means arranged on said cars and said shafts for operating the flasher signal when a car is positioned at the upper end of the shaft with a. circuit to the green down signal closed, one of said means including a cam plate arranged on the elevator shaft at the top thereof.

4. In an elevator operating signal circuit, including an elevator carin a shaft, a cam plate fixedly mounted in the shaft at the top thereof and positioned to be engaged .by a projection of the car, a combination switch 'box on the elevator car, a roller extending from the switch box adapted .to contact vthe cam plate, a flasher signal arranged on a contr-o1 board, a circuit connecting the fia-sher signal to the switch box of the elevator car, means operating the flasher as the circuit thereof is closed by engagement of the roller of the switch box with the cam plate, a down signal, a circuit to the down signal also connected to the said switch box, and communicating means between the circuits wherein the flasher operating means operates only when the down signal circuit is closed.

EDWARD O. KERN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Willi-ams et al Nov. 11, 1941 

